Looking for a job in Canada? These industries are hiring the most people right now
Canadians looking for a full-time or part-time job need to brush up their resumes because certain industries seem to be on a hiring spree right now.
Statistics Canada released its latest Labour Force Survey on Friday, revealing that the country added approximately 75,000 jobs in July 2026.
The number offers some relief to job seekers who have been dealing with a tough-to-break-through market. Canada’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 6.4 per cent in July, marking the lowest level seen in two years.
While a small drop may not seem like a major change, it means more people are getting hired, and businesses are continuing to bring on more workers.
The national statistical agency also found that unemployed Canadians are finding work more often now compared to last year. The percentage of unemployed people who found a job in June and July increased to 20.8 per cent, up from 18.5 per cent during the same period last year.
That being said, finding a job is still not easy for everyone. Many Canadians continue to face a competitive market, but the latest data suggests that some industries are picking up and creating new opportunities.
What industries are hiring the most people in Canada?
According to StatsCan, the biggest employment gains came from wholesale and retail trade, which added about 21,000 jobs.
For anyone searching for work, this industry includes a wide range of opportunities, from sales associates and cashiers to customer service representatives, warehouse workers, and online order fulfillment roles.
Retail can be a good option for students or young Canadians looking for part-time work or a first job. Many employers look for people with strong communication skills, reliability and the ability to work well with customers.
Construction employment rose by 16,000 jobs, a one per cent increase from the previous month. This increase in jobs could very well be tied to the growing demand for workers involved in building, renovations and infrastructure projects, which Canada sure has its fair share of.
This industry is more than just traditional construction labour. Canadians can find jobs as general labourers, carpenters, electricians, drywall installers, heavy equipment operators, crane operators and construction supervisors.
There are also roles for people who prefer spreadsheets over toolboxes, including construction project coordinators, estimators, site administrators, and safety officers.
StatCan says the finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing industries also saw employment growth, adding a combined total of 35,000 jobs in July. This means businesses in areas like banking, property management, accounting, engineering, marketing, and technology brought on more workers than in previous months.
The report also showed that many of the new jobs went to Canadians aged 25 to 54, primarily women in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Employment among core-aged women increased by 33,000, and their unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 per cent.
Canada also saw a rise in self-employment, with 44,000 more people venturing out to work for themselves in July.
For Canadians who are job hunting right now, it may be worth focusing their search on industries that are actively hiring. Even without direct experience, employers often look out for transferable skills like customer service, communication, organization and teamwork.
The job market in Canada is arguably still competitive, but the latest numbers suggest opportunities are slowly starting to expand, which means Canadians are going to have a better chance of landing a gig now compared to a few months ago.